Adapter unit for pneumatic rock drills



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Air lnle f A ril 30, 1957 w. c. HILLIGOSS 2,790,423

ADAPTER UNIT FOR PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILLS Filed March 3, 1955 s Sheds- Sheet 1 Willard 0. Hilligoss INVEN TOR.

' April 0, 1957 w. c. HILLIGOSS 2,790,423

ADAPTER UNIT FOR PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILLS Filed March 3, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. .3

r77//7T/ 77W 4 1 22 Willard 0. Hilligass INVEN TOR.

BY MW EML April 30, 1957' w. c. HILLIGOSS 2,790,423

ADAPTER UNIT FOR PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILLS Filed March 3, 1.955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 5

H/7/igoss Willard C.

IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent ADAPTER UNIT FOR PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILLS Willard C. Hilligoss, Tucson, Ariz., assignon by direct and mesne assignments, of one-third to William F. Berner Application March 3, 1955, Serial No. 491,967

1 Claim. (Cl. 12110) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in an adapter unit for pneumatic rock drills, and, more specifically relates to a conversion adapter whereby a conventional type of rock drill having a manually operable blower valve may be modernized for receiving an automatically operable blower valve through the interposition of an adapter unit between the older type of conventional rock drill and the newer type of 'auto matic blower valve.

There is now in use an old type of conventional pneumatic rock drill known as the Ingersoll Rand rock drill, model No. B1X71WD, which is provided with a manually operable blower valve for discharging air under pressure for cleaning the drill bit and the bore in which the same is employed. In using this type of drill, whenever it is desired to clean the bit or the bore in which the bit is working, it is necessary to manually operate a valve thereby causing a discharge of air for this purpose. This old type of rock drill has now been immodified form in which the blower valve, formerly manually operated, is now operated by air pressure, the improved automatically operable blower valve being known as the model No. E282X7l. However, heretofore, there has been no means provided whereby the new automatically operable blower valve assembly may be applied to the old type of drill.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide an adapter unit which may be attached to the old type of rock drill and upon which the new type of automatically operable blower valve assembly may be mounted, thereby modernizing the old type of drill for automatic operation in accordance with the improved construction now being manufactured.

The purposes of this invention are attained by the provision of a block or casting which is so designed that it may be readily applied to the old type of shell of the pneumatic rock drill and further so constructed that it may receive thereon the new type of pneumatically operated blower valve assembly. For this purpose, the adapter unit has appropriate air and exhaust passages adapted to connect the corresponding passages of the old type of drill with the new type of valve assembly. In addition, the block of the adapter unit is so constructed and contoured as to accommodate itself to the specific structural details of both the old type of rock drill and the new type of pneumatically operated blower valve assembly.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the conventional type of pneumatic rock drill for which the adapter unit of this invention is designed, the manually operated proved and is now sold upon the open market in-ablower' valve assembly being removed therefrom and showing the mounting seat therefor which is adapted to receive the adapter unit of this invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the adapter unit together with the pneumatically operated valve assembly mounted upon the rock drill for converting the old and obsolete model of the .same from manual to automatic operation of the blower valve;

Figures 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sectional views taken substantially upon the planes indicated by the sec tion' lines 33 and 4-4 of Figure 2, upon an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the adapter plate mounted thereon in readiness for receiving the pneumatically operated blower valve assembly;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the adapter plate taken from the underside or that surface of the same which is adjacent to the rock drill; and,

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the adapter unit.

Indicated generally by the numeral 10 is the shell or casing of a conventional form of pneumatic rock drill which, as originally constructed, was provided with a manually operable blower valve for discharging air for cleaning the drill bit and its'bore. The form of rock drill illustrated is the well known Ingersoll Rand rock drill, model No. B1X71WD. The details of construction of this rock drill are well known, and in themselves, form no part of the present invention, except that the same includes side rods 12 and a seating surface 14 which is adapted to receive the manually operated blower valve assembly, it being seen from Figures 1-5 that one of the side rods projects laterally from the drill beyond surface 14. As shown, this surface includes a pair of screw threaded bores 16 by means of which the manually op-v erated blower valve assembly was detachably secured to the seat, and also includes a pair of ports 18 and 20, one of which is the exhaust port for the rock drill and the other of which is the air passage supplying air to the blower valve assembly. 7

Shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and indicated generally by the numeral 22 is an automatic pneumatically operated blower valve assembly now manufactured as stand-,

ard equipment upon the improved type of lngersoll Rand pneumatic rock drill, and commercially available as model No. E282X71.

The improved form of Ingersoll Rand rock drill now being manufactured and which includes as standard equipment the above identified automatic pneumatically operated blower valve assembly, is known as model HlX71WD.

In accordance with this invention, the adapter unit 22 may be applied to the original or older type of rock drill, model No. B1X71WD whereby the modern type of pneumatic automatic blower valve assembly E282X71 may be applied to thus cause the modernized drill to operate in exactly the same manner as the improved model of rock drill No. H1X71WD.

Since the automatic, pneumatically operated blower valve assembly 22 is of a known and conventional design, a description of its construction and operation is unnecessary for an understanding of this invention, it being merely necessary to note that the same consists of a block or casting having a flat plane surface 24 to- Patented Apr. 30, 1957 parent from Figures 3 and 4. The base 32 is adapted to seat upon the surface 14 of the rock drillf'while'th surface 34 is adapted to receive the surface 24 of the valve assembly 22. It will be observed that the adapter 30' has a portion 36 which is adapted t everhaag er' extend laterally beyond the surface 32; .Thisisheces-t The adapter 30. is provided with a pair of bores which are adapted to register the threaded bores 16,

the bores '38being countersunk, as at, from the surface 34" to receive Allen cap screws, as shown at slz in Figure 5,- whereby theadapter plate may be clamped upon the seat 14-. .Extendinglthro'ugh the adapter are passages 44 and 46' which arefadapted to register with the previously described passages 18and of. the rock drill-as shown in Figurel. 3 4

Rising from the surface 34 of the adapter are a set of studs 50 which .are received the bores 52 of the valveassembly 22" whereby the valve assembly may be secured to the surface 34' of theadapter by means of fastening nuts 54. It will be observed that the studs 50 are so positioned that they will engage in the stud 01'' bolt holes SZ'witli which the conventional newtype of pnenmaneallyeperatea valve assembly 22is provided.

The overhanging portion 36 of the adapter is neces sat in inner to provide clearance for the side rod 12 previously mentioned-L It will be observed that the passages 44 add 46 extending through the adapter have their ports upon the surface 34 so positioned as to fully register' with the corresponding ports of the valve assembly 22 It will thus be apparent that the adapter body may be directly'mounted upon the old type of rock drill, and the'clcarance provided by the overhanging portion 36 of the adafiter will accommodate the side rod 12. Thereafter, the modern valve assembly 22 may be readily applied to' the adapter and its ports will be caused'to register' with those or the rock drill through the adapter passageways, as above mentioned.

ame-110mm operation of the rock drill; Ports 18-,

moved in its cylindrical bore iife 3, causing the driIYoperation to be stopped and discharging the bulk of the air down through the drill steel to clear the drilled hole. Excess air is released through the relief exhaust port 20, Figure l, and 46, Fig ure 6. t

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

In combination with a pneumatic rock drill of the type having a first surface with fluid passages therein and having side rods one of which projects outwardly from the drill beyond said first surface, a pneumatically operable blower valve assembly having fluid passages therein and a a second surfaceinto which said last mentioned fiuid passages open, the openings in the second surface being nonalignable'with the openings in the first surface, the improvement comprising: an adapter insert comprising a body having a pair of surfaces therein and fluid passages theret hr'ough each opening into both of said pair of surfaces, the first surface of the body and its openings being adapted to mate with one of said pair of surfaces of the adapter and the openings therein and the other of said pair of surfaces and its openings being adapted to mate with'said second surface and the openings therein whereby the pneumatic blower valve assembly may be operatively connected to the pneumatic rock drill, said body having, an overhanging portion containing said other surface and extending laterally from the body whereby to provide a recess in the body adjacent said first surface for reception ofa' side rod therein, a set of countersunk bores in said body for receiving bolts for securing the latter to said first 'suifa'c'e, studs on said body for securing a pneumatically operable blower valve assembly to said body.

Engstrom Feb. 13, 1917 Lee Mar; 9,

closing th P 23 l 

